Measured counting, gentle footsteps and slow Portuguese music emanated from the Indiana Memorial Union Frangipani Room on Wednesday night.
At times, the music was masked by high-fives and laughter among both dancers and non-dancers bonding through the physical connection of Kizomba, a relatively new style of social dance.
“I’ve probably danced three times in my life,” freshman Andrew Hoke said. “And it was awesome.”
Hoke joined other students and Bloomington community members at the first of Danca Kizomba at IU’s free lessons this semester.
Kizomba is a partner dance that originated in Angola in the 1970s. It quickly gained popularity, spreading to Europe and, in the last few years, to the United States.
The style, which translates to “party” in the Kimbundu language, is danced to Portuguese music.
Freshman Talya Smith, founder of Danca Kizomba at IU, was first exposed to the dance form three years ago. A longtime dancer of individual styles, Smith was captivated by the dance's emphasis on communication between partners.
“Social dancing is a random stranger comes up to you and asks you to dance,” Smith said. “But in that moment, it doesn’t matter where either of you is from, your cultural background, your affluency. You are, for that moment, connected.”
At her home studio in Indianapolis, Smith met a mentor from France, a second mother from Trinidad and a best friend from Turkey.
“The dance just brings people together,” Smith said.
Smith and instructor Jessica Hayes routinely ordered those at Wednesday’s lesson to rotate partners, encouraging strangers to join hands and step in sync.
When Hayes, a Bloomington-based Kizomba instructor who Smith met in Indianapolis, learned Smith would be attending IU, the two decided to collaborate and create the second collegiate Kizomba organization in the United States.
Smith could not find any other students at IU who had experience with Kizomba. She recruited four friends, one of whom is a dancer, to serve on her executive board.
Before Hayes co-founded the first Kizomba community in Bloomington two years ago, she was forced to travel across the Midwest and South in search of Kizomba classes.
Hayes said it’s common for Kizomba dancers to refer to their lives as “before Kizomba and after Kizomba.”
“If you get hooked, you get hooked,” Hayes said.
Smith said her goal is to not only teach the dance, but also educate people about Angolan culture.
During the lessons, Hayes refers to steps by their Portuguese names, and incorporates a general background of the dance style.
“I feel it’s important to learn about the history and the cultural aspects if you’re really going to appreciate an art form,” Hayes said.
The organization’s adviser is Marissa Moorman, a history professor who specializes in Angolan history.
Smith said she intends to partner with other cultural organizations on campus to present talks about Angolan history and culture.
Kizomba was developed in a period of civil war in Angola and became a point of cultural pride amidst turmoil.
Hayes said learning Kizomba in a class setting is a foreign concept in Angola. Rather, Angolans learn Kizomba from family. The dance is often expressed at family gatherings and social events.
“It is part of life,” Hayes said. “Kizomba is life.”
On Wednesday, however, Hayes taught basic steps to those unfamiliar with the style. Stepping front to back and side to side, the dancers followed Hayes’ constant counts and advice.
Some stayed after the hourlong session to practice the movements and ask questions.
Hayes said Kizomba’s emphasis on leading and following can help trained dancers improve their communication and provides non-dancers a relatively easy style to learn.
Freshman Nikki Rapuri, for whom Kizomba was her first dance class on campus, said the relaxing music and low intensity of the movements created a calming atmosphere she looks forward to entering again.
“If you’re willing,” Smith said, “anyone can dance.”
